World War I Centenary

Various Photographers

The year 2014 sees the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WWI, or the Great War, which according to official statistics cost more than 37 million military and civilian casualties between 1914 and 1918. This global war is regarded as the first 'modern warfare' conflict with the warring parties using then state-of-the-art technology, including weapons of mass destruction such as poisonous gas, submarines, capital war ships as well as for the first time battle tanks or aircraft.

Commemorative events and exhibitions are prepared these days in many countries worldwide to honor the victims, soldiers and civilians alike. The centenary of the start of World War I will also be given a special attention by EU leaders, who will hold their June summit in the Belgian town of Ieper, which is more commonly known by its then contemporary name of Ypres, near where some of the major Western Front battles were fought.